Pharmacokinetics of ivermectin after maternal or fetal intravenous administration in sheep

In pregnant sheep at 120–130 days of gestational age, a study was undertaken in order to characterize the pharmacokinetics and transplacental exchange of Ivermectin after maternal or fetal intravenous administration. Eight pregnant Suffolk Down sheep of 73.2 ± 3.7 kg body weight (bw) were surgically prepared in order to insert polyvinyl catheters in the fetal femoral artery and vein and amniotic sac. Following 48 h of recovery, the ewes were randomly assigned to two experimental groups. In group 1, (maternal injection) five ewes were treated with an intravenous bolus of 0.2 mg ivermectin/kg bw. In group 2, (fetal injection) three ewes were injected with an intravenous bolus of 1 mg of ivermectin to the fetus through a fetal femoral vein catheter. Maternal and fetal blood and amniotic fluid samples were taken before and after ivermectin administration for a period of 144 h post‐treatment. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography (HPLC). A computerized non‐compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed and the results were compared by means of the Student t‐test. The main pharmacokinetic changes observed in the maternal compartment were increases in the volume of distribution and in the half‐life of elimination (t_½β). A limited maternal‐fetal transfer of ivermectin was evidenced by a low fetal Cmax (1.72 ± 0.6 ng/mL) and AUC (89.1 ± 11.4 ng·h/mL). While the fetal administration of ivermectin resulted in higher values of clearance (554.1 ± 177.9 mL/kg) and lower values of t_½β (8.0 ± 1.4 h) and mean residence time (8.0 ± 2.9 h) indicating that fetal‐placental unit is highly efficient in eliminating the drug as well as limiting the transfer of ivermectin from the maternal to fetal compartment.     

Effects of inflorescence removal on the fruit set of the remaining inflorescences and development of the laterals on one year old apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) branches

Summary

Inflorescences are known to be important physiological sinks especially when they set fruit. The effect, over two successive years, of inflorescence removal on one year old wood was investigated on apple (Malus domestica Borkh.). The study was carried out on medium vigour (around 30 cm) branches of cv. Granny Smith. On one set of branches (control) the inflorescences were untreated, while on two other sets, one-third and two-thirds of inflorescences (spur leaves, bourse-shoot and flower cluster) were removed at full bloom. The first analysis investigated the fruit setting ability of remaining inflorescences. The results generally confirmed previous results on the positive correlation between the number of leaves and flowers of the inflorescence and fruit set, and also the higher fruit set on two year old wood as compared with one year old wood. On one year old wood, inflorescence removal treatments tended to increase the fruit set of inflorescences with a low number of leaves and flowers leading to a level of fruit set similar to that of inflorescences with a larger number of leaves and flowers. On two year old wood, in the following year, only the two-thirds treatment increased fruit set consistently compared with the control. A second analysis investigated the effect of inflorescence removal on lateral shoot development. It was shown that the treatments had a little effect on quantitative growth (length, diameter) of the laterals per se. On the other hand, the removal of two-thirds of the inflorescence significantly stimulated the development of fruitful inflorescences the following year. Results are discussed in relation to the local versus global physiological integration at the branch level.     

Does dry matter partitioning to fruit in early- and late-ripening peach (Prunus persica) cultivars confirm the branch autonomy theory?

Summary

We studied dry matter partitioning to fruit by establishing different patterns of fruit distribution between and within main branch units (scaffolds) on early (cv. ‘Alexandra’) and late (cv. ‘Suncrest’) maturing cultivars of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch). The desired fruit loads were obtained by differential thinning of scaffolds and the commercial crop-load per tree was maintained. Each tree had four main scaffolds, one of these scaffolds was lightly thinned (High-crop scaffold), another one was heavily thinned (Low-crop scaffold) and the different fruit bearing stems (FBS) were alternately lightly thinned or heavily thinned in two scaffolds (Alternative-scaffold). Growth of fruits and of leafy shoots on all FBS were measured periodically from hand-thinning 30 and 50 days after full-bloom (DAFB) until harvest for cvs. ‘Alexandra’ and Suncrest, respectively. The mean fruit dry weight (DW) per FBS was strongly affected by fruit distribution between and within scaffolds in the late cv. ‘Suncrest’, indicating that branch autonomy was functional at the level of FBS in this case. In the early cv. ‘Alexandra’, mean fruit DW per FBS in each scaffold was similar, suggesting C-transfer between individual FBS. Branch autonomy could not be explained by fruit sink-strength being equal in both cultivars. In contrast to generative growth, vegetative growth was similar between scaffolds in both cultivars suggesting its independence from fruit sink removal.     

A review of propagation programs for Gmelina arborea

Gmelina arborea is a multipurpose tree species native to Asia. This tree can be propagated by seedlings, rooted cuttings, and grafting. Small tree planting programs with limited budgets tend to propagate by seedlings, and larger or industrial plantation projects with breeding programs propagate by rooted cuttings. Details about these propagation methods are presented. Also discussed are new vegetative propagation techniques that can multiply selected material very quickly, thus shortening the time between selection, testing, and operational deployment of gmelina clones. Palabras clave: Estacas enraizadas, Propagación clonal, Viveros Resumen. Gmelina arborea es una especie de árbol multipropósito originaria del Asia. La especie puede propagarse por semilla, estacas enraizadas, e injertos. Los proyectos forestales pequeños, con presupuesto limitado, tienden a propagar esta especie por semilla, mientras que los proyectos industriales, con programas de mejoramiento genético, propagan por estacas enraizadas. Se mencionan detalles sobre estos tipos de propagación. También se discuten técnicas relativamente nuevas para la multiplicación rápida de material selecto, acortando el proceso de selección, validación, y utilización operacional de clones de gmelina.     

The addition of Propionibacterium freudenreichii to Raclette cheese induces biochemical changes and enhances flavor development

Two mixtures of Propionibacterium freudenreichii commercial strains were tested as adjunct cultures in pasteurized milk Raclette cheese to investigate the ability of propionibacteria (PAB) to enhance flavor development. Cheese flavor was assessed by a trained sensory panel, and levels of free amino acids, free fatty acids, and volatile compounds were determined. The PAB level showed a 1.4 log increase within the ripening period (12 weeks at 11 degrees C). Eye formation, which was not desired, was not observed in PAB cheeses. PAB fermented lactate to acetate and propionate and produced fatty acids by lipolysis, branched chain volatile compounds derived from isoleucine and leucine catabolism and some esters. One of the experimental cheeses received the highest scores for odor and flavor intensity and was characterized by higher frequencies of detection for some minor notes ("propionic"and "whey" odor, "sweet" taste). PAB can therefore be considered as potential adjunct cultures to enhance or modify cheese flavor development.     

Globular resistance in bovine erythrocytes

An analysis of red blood cells resistance has been conducted by exposing red corpuscles of zebu, Baoule and metis zebu x Baoule, to different saline concentrations. The statistical results show no sex influence for all breeds. In zebu, there is a difference according to the type of hemoglobin concerned. The last ones differ also from these in taurine and metis. The data analysis were realised by calculating the mean of hemolysis percentages for all samples, as with NaCl concentrations in respect of a 50 per cent hemolysis. These differences can partly explain anaemia in bovine trypanosomiasis to Trypanosoma vivax or T. congolense, which less severely affects taurine Baoule than zebus.     

The major histocompatibility complex of West African cattle. Typing of lymphocyte antigens (BoLA) of Baoulé cattle (Bos taurus) and Sudanese zebus (Bos indicus) of Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Lymphocyte antigen (BoLA) typing on 247 Baoule cattle (Bos taurus) and 106 Sudanese zebus (Bos indicus), allowed us to determine gene frequencies of 43 class 1 specificities, as international "W" and European "EU", as African local from Kenya "KN" and Burkina Faso "BF". In comparing these frequencies, it appears that some specificities could be considered as significant breed markers for Baoule cattle and zebus.     

Towards an Automated Detection of Oestrus in Dairy Cattle

Heat detection is a key factor in the profitability of dairy herds. However, this detection demands a significant part of the breeder’s working time and is made difficult by the short duration and the discrete behavioural changes associated with oestrus in modern dairy cows. Progress has been made in monitoring cow with electronics, biosensors and computer. As a result, automated heat detection systems have been developed. Currently available tools are automated detectors of standing heat, activity‐metres and automated in‐line systems measuring milk progesterone. Camera‐software systems and monitoring of body temperature are being developed and may also be used as heat detection tools. The heat detection rate of most systems is above 80% with a specificity of detection generally higher than 90%. The accuracy, however, may vary considerably depending on the tool and model developed. The initial investment of several thousands of euros required for these automated systems becomes a source of profit in large herds, provided the recorded data are properly managed.     

Production,size, and germination of broad‐leaved dock seeds collected from mother plants grown under different nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium supplies

Rumex obtusifolius is believed to be a nitrophilous weedy species that spreads mainly by seed. However, the effects of nutrient availability on seed production never have been investigated. In this study, how the amount of seed production per plant, the chemical composition of the seeds, and their size and germination are affected by the supply of N, P, and K was investigated. A pot fertilizer experiment with 10 treatments (combinations of 0, 150 [N1], and 300 [N2] kg N ha^?1, 0, 40 [P1], and 80 [P2] kg P ha^?1, and 0 and 100 [K] kg K ha^?1 applied twice per vegetation season) was carried out in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2008 and 2009. The seeds from plants that were cultivated since the spring were collected each August. The germination of the seeds was determined in long‐daylight conditions at a stable temperature of 20°C. The number of seeds per plant ranged from 0 in the P1 and P2 treatments and <200 in the control and K treatments to almost 9000 in the N2P2K treatment. The number of seeds per plant was positively correlated with the number of stems per plant and the number of seeds per stem. The relationship between the amount of seeds per plant and the individual seed weight was positive. The concentration of N, P, and K in the seeds was affected by the treatments. The weight of 1000 seeds ranged from 1.3 to 1.7 g. The seed length ranged from 2.11 to 2.34 mm and the seed width varied from 1.26 to 1.42 mm. With the exception of the control (with 94% germination), the amount of seed germination was >98% in all the other treatments in 2008. In 2009, the amount of seed germination was >95% in all the treatments, except N1 and N2, where 93% and 89% germination, respectively, was recorded. The germination rate was positively related to the P concentration in the seeds. The amount of time that was necessary for 50% seed germination ranged from 1.53 to 2.89 days and was not related to the N concentration in the seeds, but it was negatively related to the P and K concentrations. A balanced N, P, and K supply to the mother plant strongly affected the number of produced seeds and their chemical composition and germination ability.     

Mapping Regional and Sectoral Characteristics of Knowledge‐Intensive Business Services: Evidence from the Province of Quebec (Canada)

ABSTRACT The study presents original evidence on the characteristic features and innovation activities of knowledge‐intensive business services (KIBS). Based on a wide‐scale survey of 1,124 KIBS firms in Quebec (Canada), we explore empirically the extent to which KIBS from various sectors and regions differ in their characteristics and their uses of innovation practices. The results from the sectoral analysis reveal that KIBS display different characteristic features and innovation behaviours across sectors, thus suggesting that inter‐sectoral differences are important when explaining innovation activities in KIBS. The comparison between KIBS in large, medium, central, and resource regions shows that the characteristic features and the innovativeness of KIBS are rather similar, and little or no significant statistical differences were found between the different regions in the province of Quebec. Thus, overall, the results of our study seem to suggest that a location does not tend to make a difference in respect to characteristic features and innovation performance of KIBS.